Monroe barnes



(No Model.)

M. BARNES.

ROAD CART. No. 404,672. Patented June 4, 1889. v

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MONROE BARNES, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

ROAD- CART.

SPECIFICATION forming part of I Letters Patent No. 404,672, dated June 4, 18 89 Application filed March '7. 1839- $erial No. 302,315. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Mormon BARNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Carts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to road-carts; and it consists in various features and details hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side View of my improved road-cart with the wheels and some of the other parts removed; Fig. 2, a front face view of a portion of my cart, and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 views illustrating certain details of construction.

The objects of the present invention are to simplify and cheapen the construction, to render the action of the springs uniform and easy,'and at the same time to relieve the vehicle-gear of undue strain and to overcome the shaft or horse motion.

A indicates the axle, B the wheels, and C O the shafts, secured rigidly to the axle.

D indicates what may be termed the body of the cart, which forms no partof the present invention and may obviously be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention. The forward end of the body is provided with two forwardly-project ing arms or bars E, (only one of which is shown,) which are slotted lengthwise and bear at their forward ends against the under side of the shafts C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

F indicates a U-shaped clip, the arms of which embrace the sides of the arms E and bear against the under side of the shafts, the said clip being held in position by means of a bolt G, which passes through the several parts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. In the clip F is placed an elastic block or cushion H, which prevents rattling, the upper face of the said block or cushion being protected from wear by means of a washer or plate I. The construction of the parts is such that the arms E may slide freely back and forth through the clip and lengthwise relatively to the shafts when the rear end of the body is depressed. Secured to the under side of the body near its rear end is a semi-elliptic spring J, the ends of the lower leaf of which are given a quarter turn or twist, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the spring are perforated, as at a, and are provided with a curved or rounded bearing-face b, Fig. 3, to fit a corresponding surface of a hook K, pivotally secured to the forward face of the shafts, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and l. At its upper end the hook is flattened out and perforated and fits upon a sleeved washer c, which in turn is mounted upon a bolt d, passing through the shafts, said hook K-being held upon the sleeve of its washer by means of a nut e and washerj, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The sleeved washer 0 may obviously be omitted and the hook journaled directly upon the bolt; but the construction shown is preferred.

The consi ruction just described permits the hooks to swing only at right angles to the line of draft, the lower ends of the hooks moving away from each other as weight is applied to thespring. Of course when the rear end of the body is depressed the bar E at the front end thereof will slide backward through the clip F a short distance. The descent of the body has a tendency to twist the spring lengthwise; but this is overcome by the use of the rounded bearing-face b, which permits the spring to adjust itself upon the hooks asthe body rises and falls.

WVhile the vertical movement of the body is considerable, the longitudinal movement is very slight, and consequently the springs are arranged, as shown, to compensate for this compound movement.

L L indicate plates secured to the front. and rear faces of the upright portions of the shafts, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the said plates being held in position by means of the bolts f and f, and having their lower ends fashioned into tangs, which pass on opposite sides of the axle and are threaded to receive nuts g.

M indicates a brace-rod secured at its forward end to the horizontal portion of the shafts, and provided at its rear end with a loop or eye N, which will be made by merely bending the metal into proper shape. This eye or loop N is adapted to fit between the under side of the axle and a concave seat It, formed in the upper face of a clip-plate O, as

shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the said clip-plate being perforated to receive the tangs of the plates L, which tangs also pass through the eye or loop. Vhen thenuts are tightened up, the loop or eye will be clamped firmly against the under side of the axle and longitudinal movement of the loop or eye prevented. Lat eral movement of the parts is also prevented by the concave socket or seat h, embracing the sides of the loop or eye.

I do not wish to restrict myself to the use of this clip-plate and brace to atwo-wheeled vehicle, as it is obvious that it may be applied to other styles of vehicles.

In the preferred form of my invention the plate 0 will be provided with a rearward extension P, which will be bent down to form a step, as shown, and when thus made and applied the concave socket becomes of especial value, as there is no possibility of one being thrown by any lateral movement of the step.

I am aware that a road-cart has been patented in which it was proposed to support the body by springs secured to the top of the shafts in advance of the body, andI am also aware that it has been proposed to secure the attaching-spring at its end to the axle, and to these plans I make no claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Ina vehicle, the combination, with the body and shafts, of a spring secured to the body and connected at its ends with the front face of the shafts, and a sliding connection between the shafts and body.

2. In a vehicle, the combination, with the body, of the shafts, a sliding connection between the body and shafts at the forward end of the body, a spring secured to the body near the rear end, and supports for the ends of the springs pivoted to the shafts.

3. In a vehicle, the combination, with the shafts, of the body connected therewith at its forward end by a sliding joint and a spring adapted to support the rear end of the body and pivotally connected with the shafts, said spring being adapted to adjust itself upon its supports as the body rises and falls.

4. I11 a vehicle, the combination, with the shafts, of the body connected at its forward end with the shafts by a sliding connection and a spring supporting the rear end of the body and pivotally connected with the shafts, said spring being adapted to be extended lengthwise and to rock upon its supports as the body rises and falls.

5. In a vehicle, the combination, with the shafts, of the body connected at its forward end with the shafts by a sliding connection, a spring supporting the rear end of the body, and laterally-swinging supports for the ends of the spring secured to the shafts, whereby when a weight is applied to the body it will move downward and backward and cause the spring to rock or tip relatively to its supports.

6. In a vehicle, the combination, with the shafts, of the body provided with forwardlyextending arms slotted, as shown, U-shaped clips on the under side of the shafts, a cushion within the clips, and a bolt for each clip, all arranged substantially as shown.

7. In a vehicle, the combination, with the shafts and the body connected therewith at its forward end by a sliding joint, of hooks secured to the shafts on their forward faces and adapted to swing only laterally or at right angles to the line of draft, and a spring secured to the body and provided with rounded bearing -faces where it connects with the hooks, all substantially as shown.

8. In combination with the shafts, the sleeved washer secured thereto, the hook mounted on the washer, a bolt and nut securing the washers to the shafts and the hooks to the washers, a body, and springs connecting the body and the hooks.

9. In combination with an axle or bar, a brace-rod provided with an eye, and a plate 0, provided with a socket in its upper face to receive and hold the eye against the bar or axle, all substantially as shown.

10. In combination with an axle and the shafts, the plates L, provided with threaded tangs, a braeerod provided with an eye, a plate 0, provided with a socket in its upper face to receive the eye, and bolts applied to the tangs.

11. In combination with an axle and the shafts, a brace-rod M, provided with an eye N, a plate 0, provided with a socket in its upper face to receive the eye, plates L L, applied to the shafts and provided with tangs to pass through the eye, and means for securing the parts in position.

12. In combination with the axle and shafts, the brace-rod M, provided with an eyeN, aplate 0, provided with a socket in its upper face to receive and hold the eye, and provided also with a rearward extension 1, plates L L, provided with tangs passing through the eye N and plate 0, and nuts applied to the tangs.

13. In a road-cart, the combination, with the wheeled frame and the shafts rigidly attached thereto, of the body connected at its forward end with the shafts by a sliding eonnection,a spring supporting the rear end of the body, and laterally swinging supports for said spring, all arranged substantially as shown, whereby when a load is applied to the body it will move downward and backward, and thereby cause the spring to be extemled lengthwise and to rock. forward. or backward. relatively to and upon its supports.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

MONROE BARNES.

\Jitnesscs:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, WALTER S. Donor). 

